When he woke up, he was overjoyed to see Huangfu Jun'an sleeping right beside him. But as he reached out to him, he felt a sharp pain in his heart, as if someone had pulled at it! The pain was excruciating! Ji Wushang gently pounded his chest and then took his pulse.
She looked at Huangfu Jun'an and took his pulse as well.
She pulled her hand back, her thoughts drifting away for a moment.
Those were words I overheard the imperial physicians saying after they had treated and stabilized Huangfu Jun'an's condition.
"I think the young master is truly beyond saving, alas!" one of the imperial physicians said.
"How pitiful!" Another imperial physician echoed in a deep voice, shaking his head and sighing.
This was followed by sighs from several imperial physicians.
Just as Ji Wushang was feeling dejected and desperate and wanted to leave, he suddenly heard a voice.
"It's not that there's no way, it's just that this medicine is extremely hard to find!" Ji Wushang immediately turned around, pressed his ear against the wall, and listened attentively.
"We need the Pearl of the Sea as a medicinal guide, the blood of the Fourth Imperial Concubine as the main ingredient, along with our commonly used remedies, and also some fragrant incense, three-foot incense sticks, and a snow lotus. This should be enough to completely cure the young master's illness."
"Isn't this a life for a life?" another imperial physician said, and the other imperial physicians dared not utter a sound.
"Yes, it's a life for a life, but it all depends on the Fourth Princess Consort! After all, the Fourth Prince is dead, and only the Fourth Princess Consort can make the decision. Besides, the Pearl of Yuehai is Qingzhao's national treasure; how easy is it to obtain?"
Ji Wushang snapped out of his daze.
My life is coming to an end, and there's not much I can hold onto.
She got out of bed and went to the small pharmacy in Xiu Xun Palace, which was Tuoba Heyan's personal medicine storehouse. Ji Wushang picked out a few medicines and took them. Then she stood up and administered acupuncture to herself.
She sat back down in front of the dressing mirror, looked at her still somewhat pale face in the mirror, and reached out to begin applying her makeup.
Tuoba Heyan certainly didn't know that the poison gas in Yiyun City last night was a deeply hidden poison. He thought it was nothing, so he didn't force out the poison in time. Moreover, this poison had already begun to take root in Ji Wushang's body, deeply surrounding her heart, and the poison kept invading her heart!
All she wanted was two days, no, a day and a half.
Today, during the day, then at night, then tomorrow.
That's enough time.
If I could exchange my current, drug-addicted, and soon-to-die life for Huangfu Jun'an's, it would be worth it.
Ji Wushang smiled at the dressing mirror and began to apply floral makeup. She put on her queen's palace dress, saw the phoenix jade hairpin on the table, smiled and picked it up, then carefully wiped it clean, washed it with some herbs she had brought, and then smiled as she looked in the mirror and inserted it into her hair.
"A single glance could topple a city; a beautiful woman's smile is as graceful as a startled swan, as elegant as a swimming dragon."
Light clouds veil the moon, a gentle breeze swirls like snowflakes, the scene is as radiant as a lotus flower, laughter and conversation are intimate.
My heart is pleased with your beauty, and I sincerely wish to convey your sentiments. I remove my hairpin, for you, my beloved, are eloquent in your poetry.
The creeping vines are lush and green, the dew is glistening, we meet in the deep pool, and hold fast to our promise.
Ji Wushang recited the poem Tuoba Heyan had written for her. She smiled and looked at the beauty in the mirror, wearing a phoenix jade hairpin. "If, if I can no longer accompany you through this lifetime, who will accompany you? Who will listen to you recite the Book of Songs? Who will watch you write? Who will tie up your black hair? Who will apply cinnabar to your face? Cough, cough!" Ji Wushang covered her lips and opened her palm, which was already coughing up blood.
"You hid the fact that you were infected with the Heart-Eating Gu from me before, so today I will also hide it from you. It's fair." Ji Wushang smiled and took some medicine from her person, pouring it into her mouth to suppress the discomfort.
He turned around and walked out.
Hongfei and Cuiwu were taking care of Huangfu Jun'an when they saw Ji Wushang about to leave. They immediately stepped forward and said, "Princess."
"I'll go check on him. Things aren't peaceful today," Ji Wushang said.
"Princess, you..."
"I'm fine. Please take good care of Nianlang for me. Take him to your courtyard for now. No one should think of this place. This way, Nianlang will be safe," Ji Wushang said.
"Yes." Hongfei and Cuiwu nodded.
Ji Wushang's face had a slight blush, whether from the medicine she had taken or from the cosmetics she had applied, it was hard to tell, but it added a touch of allure to her appearance.
Hongfei and Cuiwu stared in surprise. What's wrong with the princess today?
Ji Wushang smiled, patted Huangfu Jun'an's little hand and head, and then walked out. But she didn't go directly to the main hall; instead, she returned to her Mi Luo Palace to retrieve some things.
The atmosphere in the main hall was somewhat solemn.
After Tuoba Heyan finished reading the memorial and documents in his hand, to everyone's surprise, he suddenly exerted force, and instantly, all the memorial and documents in his hand turned into dust! The powder slid down his long, well-defined fingers!
ah?
Everyone was taken aback!
"Your Majesty!" The Grand Chancellor and the Queen Mother exclaimed almost simultaneously!
Tuoba Heyan, his face cold and stern, said, "This is utterly ridiculous! How dare you show me these forgeries! You're asking for trouble!" His sinister eyes swept over the Grand Chancellor and the Queen Mother, "What I want to hear is the truth!"
"Your Majesty, those are the historical records kept by the historians, they are the facts! How could Your Majesty destroy them?!" The Grand Chancellor stepped forward. "Your Majesty, you must be serious about your work!"
"Oh, the Grand Chancellor is questioning me?" Tuoba Heyan looked at Baili Su. "Where was the Grand Chancellor yesterday?"
"This old minister is peacefully in seclusion at home and has not gone anywhere," the Grand Chancellor sneered.
"But what I've heard is that the Grand Chancellor went to the outskirts of the western city overnight to meet with General Murs of the Western Regions." Tuoba Heyan looked at Baili Su with a cold smile!
"This, how is this possible? Your Majesty must have seen wrong!" How could this bastard have seen through my secretive actions? Baili Su's expression changed slightly.
"Then what is this?" Tuoba Heyan casually pulled a folded document from his sleeve and threw it on the ground!
The surrounding ministers were shocked by Tuoba Heyan's words! Could this Grand Chancellor be colluding with the Western Regions and plotting something sinister?
Grand Chancellor Baili Su listened to Tuoba Heyan's words, then looked at the memorial on the ground, his expression changed, and then he looked at the Empress Dowager, who was also very surprised!
Consort Ansu was so shocked that she didn't know what to say or do!
Tuoba Heyan's eyes were deep and thoughtful. "The Grand Chancellor doesn't dare to pick it up and take a look?"
"Yes." Grand Chancellor Baili Su lowered his eyes, then picked up the folded document, opened it, and his face became very stiff.
"Three years ago, on May 14th, the Grand Chancellor secretly met with General Murs of the Western Regions, the purpose of which is unknown. On June 13th, basements began to appear at the west gate of the city. On the surface, they were abandoned slums, but in reality, they were places where weapons were buried, and a large number of craftsmen were forging weapons!"
On October 4th, I personally led my troops in two separate campaigns against Qingzhao and the Western Regions. On October 20th, Qingzhao and the Western Regions clashed, and the Western Regions were defeated. I planned to seize the opportunity to attack the Western Regions city, but someone sabotaged my mount, causing me to fall off and into a deep pool! I nearly died! And the ones who did this were none other than the Grand Chancellor and General Yehe! "Tuoba Heyan's resounding voice echoed throughout the entire hall!
Those around them listened, pointing and whispering amongst themselves!
Grand Chancellor Baili Su immediately stepped forward, "Your Majesty, how can you cite such a bunch of inexplicable things based on just this one report?"
"Something amiss? And a memorial? Someone, bring it to the Grand Chancellor!" Tuoba Heyan waved his hand, and immediately Long Yu and his men carried a desk over from the side. On the desk were several neatly stacked memorials and letters!
Baili Su immediately stepped back, his face turning deathly pale. "This, this..."
"Perhaps the physical evidence is insufficient. Summon Yehe!" Tuoba Heyan said coldly.
"Wasn't General Yehe supposed to have his entire family executed? How come he's still alive?"
...
Those around him murmured amongst themselves, but soon, several guards brought in a filthy-bearded man dressed in a white prison uniform, his hair a mess! Many ministers recognized him as General Yehe! Once so powerful and imposing, now he was reduced to this wretched state!
"Kneel down!" The guards immediately forced Yehe to kneel down.
At this moment, Baili Su was finding it hard to bear. He looked at Ye He in front of him, and then at Tuoba Heyan, "Your Majesty, what... what does this mean?"
Tuoba Heyan waved coldly.
Long Yu immediately went down and released Ye He's pressure points! Long Yu then stood aside.
"Yehe, if you can tell the truth, I, the king, will allow you to atone for your crimes and spare your life!" Tuoba Heyan said coldly. "I can also allow the underage boys and girls of your family to return to commoner status instead of becoming slaves or prostitutes!"
How ruthless!
However, this was the only hope. As someone who had been an official for thirty or forty years, how could Yehe not seize the opportunity? Even if it wasn't for himself, it was for the sake of his grandchildren!
"Grand Chancellor, let it go! Confess everything and beg the King to spare your life. This is the best course of action!" Yehe turned to Grand Chancellor Baili Su, and then to the ministers. "Yes, I was instructed by the Grand Chancellor to follow the King and fight alongside him. I originally thought that the war would cause the King to suffer a defeat and be frustrated!"
However, to my surprise, the King was victorious in every battle! He truly possessed the talent of a great general! At that time, General Murs from the Western Regions approached me, offering me gold, silver, and beautiful women as bribes. I dared not resist, so I reported to the Grand Chancellor. The Grand Chancellor quickly reached an agreement with General Murs, so while the King was resting, we injured his mount. Therefore, at the crucial moment, the King fell from his horse and plunged into a deep pool!
If Lord Longyu hadn't arrived in time, the Grand Chancellor would never have been forced by circumstances to revive the King!
Those around gasped in disbelief. They never imagined that the revered Grand Chancellor would be such a person! Back then, the Grand Chancellor had knelt before the late king in front of everyone and swore to wholeheartedly assist the new king, Tuoba Heyan. But who would have thought that he would slowly do such a thing over time!
Tuoba Heyan ascended the throne at the age of twelve, when he was still a child. Political affairs were handled by the Grand Chancellor and the Queen Mother. It was only at the age of twenty, when he held his coronation ceremony, that Tuoba Heyan began to wield power!
The human heart is truly not to be underestimated!
Tuoba Heyan was currently toying with a flame-like weapon in his hand, the power burning in his palm! Everyone looked on in astonishment, wondering what kind of martial art this was and how it was possible!
"Is there anything else the Grand Chancellor wants to say?" Tuoba Heyan asked leisurely, his deep black eyes looking at Baili Su. "The crime of deceiving the emperor deserves death! Colluding with outsiders deserves execution! Plotting treason deserves to be executed by dismemberment!"
"This, this..." The Grand Chancellor looked at the Empress Dowager, who closed her eyes and remained silent. The Grand Chancellor's face turned deathly pale. He looked at everyone, then at Tuoba Heyan.
As the guards were about to approach, the Grand Chancellor immediately shouted, "Wait!"
Those around him were drawn to his words, but Tuoba Heyan's thin lips remained motionless, indicating that he was waiting for the Grand Chancellor's next words.
"Do you...do you know who he is? He is not the real Tuoba Heyan. The real Tuoba Heyan is dead!" the Grand Chancellor shouted at this moment!
"Grand Chancellor! Don't spout nonsense!" The Queen Mother immediately stood up. This was her son; how could she not say it?
Consort Ansu and the other ministers were all frozen in place. This was another major event!
"He is indeed not Tuoba Heyan, but Tuoba Heyan's twin brother, Tuoba Hexun!" Just then, a clear, cold voice came from behind the curtain, and everyone's attention was focused on the person who came! It was the newly established queen, Ji Wushang!
Ji Wushang stepped forward, then walked to the high seat, looked at Tuoba Heyan, and smiled.
Tuoba Heyan was slightly surprised. What was she talking about? How come he didn't even know this?
Ji Wushang glanced at the so-called Grand Chancellor, but after just one glance, she didn't want to look any further. Instead, she took out a letter from her bosom, opened it, and displayed it to everyone. "This is something I obtained by chance in the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty. However, the writing on it is not the writing of the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty, but the writing of Qingzhao."
"Twenty-six years ago, Prince Tuoba Qing of Qingzhao met a woman named Zhenrong. Unfortunately, Lady Zhenrong was a woman from Qingzhao and came from a humble background, so she was not recognized by the Empress Dowager and Queen of Qingzhao at the time... Empress Dowager, you were the Queen at the time, so you should know about this, right?"
"I, I..." The Empress Dowager's face turned pale as she listened, and she lowered her head, not knowing what words to use to express herself!
"Therefore, the Queen Mother and the Queen staged a scene where Zhenrong stormed off in a huff to deceive the late King. In reality, it was the Queen Mother and the Queen who were chasing after Consort Zhenrong, forcing her to flee. Although the late King was heartbroken, he had to put aside the matter of Consort Zhenrong due to the pressure from the Queen Mother and the Queen."
But who could have known that as soon as Consort Zhenrong returned home, she was seized by palace servants and forced to serve as a maid in the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty palace! Thus, Consort Zhenrong was able to meet the current emperor of the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty, the current Zhou Emperor! Consort Zhenrong was favored and became Consort Zhen!
However, unexpectedly, Consort Zhen learned by chance that she was pregnant, but she deduced that it was the child of the late Prince Qingzhao, not Emperor Zhou!
At that time, Consort Zhen was in the harem of the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty, where she was both rival to Empress Yao and on good terms with the late Princess Huangfu Xiuer. Consort Zhen lived in constant fear and trepidation, but she never imagined that on the very night she gave birth, Empress Yao would plot her death and burn her to death in her palace!
Princess Huangfu Xiuer arrived too late to save Consort Zhen, but managed to save the twins. At the time, she was already married to the Marquis of Jinnan, but dared not make it public, so she kept only one child, naming him Nan Xuzong. He later became the Fourth Prince of the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty, Huangfu Zong, the current Prince Qingzhao, Tuoba Hexun, who sits on the dragon throne! Ji Wushang looked at the man on the dragon throne, then turned to the crowd and continued:
"The other one was entrusted to the old nanny who used to serve Consort Zhen. The old nanny fled and knew she couldn't escape being killed, so she entrusted the other child to my great-grandmother, the old lady. My great-grandmother intended to foster the child in a farming family, hoping that the child could live a peaceful and ordinary life."
But! Ji Wushang's eyes swept towards the Empress Dowager, who was timid but dared not utter a word!
"After Queen Dowager Qingzhao and Queen tricked Consort Zhen into escaping, Queen originally wanted to win the favor of the late King Qingzhao and hoped to have a child. However, she eventually learned that she was infertile! The late King valued bloodlines very much, and anyone in the palace who thought of impersonating a child of a foreigner had been executed!"
The Queen knew her position was threatened, for the Empress Dowager had given her an ultimatum! While pursuing Consort Zhen, she learned she was pregnant. Knowing the child was Prince Qingzhao's, the Queen seized the opportunity and snatched the child from a farmer—this was Tuoba Heyan!